When to plant in New Hampshire
Most of New Hampshire sees its last spring frost between Apr 30 and May 19, and its first fall frost between Sep 26 and Oct 12. The middle of the state is around May 7 and October 4: that's what the dates below use.
Hardiness zones in New Hampshire: 4b (4%), 5a (20%), 5b (31%), 6a (43%).
Planting dates for common crops
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest | Plant for fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Apr 2 | May 21 – Jun 4 | Jul 30 – Oct 4 | — |
| Pepper | Mar 19 | May 21 – Jun 4 | Aug 4 – Oct 4 | — |
| Cucumber | — | May 21 – Jun 4 | Jul 15 – Sep 2 | — |
| Zucchini / Summer squash | — | May 21 – Jun 4 | Jul 10 – Sep 18 | — |
| Winter squash | — | May 21 – Jun 4 | Aug 24 – Sep 28 | — |
| Green beans (bush) | — | May 21 – Jun 4 | Jul 15 – Aug 26 | — |
| Peas | — | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | May 25 – Jun 29 | Jul 15 – Jul 29 |
| Sweet corn | — | May 21 – Jun 4 | Aug 4 – Sep 1 | — |
| Lettuce | — | Apr 9 – Apr 23 | May 24 – Jul 5 | Aug 6 – Aug 20 |
| Spinach | — | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | May 5 – Jun 16 | Aug 25 – Sep 8 |
| Kale | Feb 26 | Apr 9 – Apr 23 | Jun 3 – Aug 26 | Aug 24 – Sep 7 |
| Broccoli | Mar 5 | Apr 16 – Apr 30 | Jun 15 – Jul 20 | Jul 29 – Aug 12 |
| Cabbage | Feb 26 | Apr 9 – Apr 23 | Jun 18 – Jul 23 | Jul 26 – Aug 9 |
| Carrot | — | Apr 16 – Apr 30 | Jun 25 – Aug 6 | Jul 26 – Aug 9 |
| Beet | — | Apr 16 – Apr 30 | Jun 10 – Jul 22 | Aug 3 – Aug 17 |
| Radish | — | Apr 2 – Apr 16 | Apr 27 – May 25 | Aug 26 – Sep 9 |
| Onion (sets) | — | Apr 2 – Apr 16 | Jul 11 – Aug 15 | — |
| Garlic | — | Sep 27 – Oct 18 (fall) | Jul 2 – Jul 23 next year | — |
| Potato | — | Apr 16 – Apr 30 | Jul 15 – Aug 19 | — |
| Sweet potato | Apr 16 | May 28 – Jun 11 | Sep 5 – Oct 3 | — |
| Watermelon | — | May 28 – Jun 11 | Aug 21 – Sep 25 | — |
| Basil | Apr 9 | May 21 – Jun 4 | Jun 20 – Sep 26 | — |
| Strawberry (June-bearing) | — | Apr 16 – Apr 30 | Jun 4 – Jul 2 (once established) | — |
| Sunflower | — | May 21 – Jun 4 | Aug 9 – Sep 13 | — |
Dates for a typical spot in New Hampshire. Colder and higher places plant later, warmer ones earlier: enter your ZIP code for yours, or see the calendar for your zone.
Frost dates around New Hampshire
| Place | Zone | Last frost | First frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | 6a | Apr 30 | Oct 11 |
| Nashua | 6a | Apr 30 | Oct 8 |
| Concord | 5b | May 14 | Oct 3 |
| Portsmouth | 6a | May 7 | Oct 8 |
| Rochester | 6a | Apr 30 | Oct 9 |
| Dover | 6a | Apr 30 | Oct 9 |
| Laconia | 5b | Apr 30 | Oct 18 |
| Tilton | 5b | Apr 30 | Oct 18 |
| Hampton | 6a | May 7 | Oct 8 |
| Keene | 5b | May 14 | Oct 1 |
Average dates from the nearest NOAA weather stations (1991–2020). Click a place for its full planting calendar.